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GEN. WASHINGTOxN 



GOVERNMENT 



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H EVOLUTION, Etc 



Compiled from the Addresses and Writings of Washington 



S' NEW-YORK: 
JOHN A. GRAY, PRINTER, STEREOTYPER,AXD BINDER, 

FIRE-PROOF BUILDINGS, 
CORNER OF FRANKFORT AND JACOB STREETS. 

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GEN. WASHINGTON 



GOVERNMENT 




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REVOLUTION, Etc. 



Compiled from the Addresses and Writings of Washington. 



5 NEW- YORK 



JOHN A. GRAY, PRINTER, STEREOT YPER, AND BINDER, 

FIEE-PROOF BUILDINGS, 

CORXEB OF FRANKFORT AND JACOB STREETS. 



1861, 



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Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year I80I, by 

E. ORAM, 

In tlie (/lerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the 
Southern District of New-York. 



A MEMBEE of this Community, who can not see the 
surging elements of rebellious treason, rising seemingly 
to destroy us as a people, and extinguish our nation- 
ality among the Powers of the World, without feeling 
the deepest interest in the j^resent and coming events 
by which we are and may be surrounded, offers the 
accompanying extracts from the writings of the illus- 
trious Washington, for the consideration of the people. 

Among the many addresses made, at the North, 
South, East, and West, on this momentous crisis, the 
writer has not seen one that contained any direct refer- 
ence to the counsels of the Father of his Country, of 
him who was, under providence, the Guide, the Leader, 
and the Founder of this hitherto " Great Republic." 

Who so capable as he, of expounding the elements 
of the government, and defining the duties of the mem- 
bers of it, as men and as citizens ? 

The present state of our country shows how little 
the nature of our government has been understood by 
the people at large, and in how small a degree the only 
princij)les by which it was established, and by which 
it can be sustained, have been acquired. 

Information from a reliable source, presents the only 
antidote for the present state of things. For this pur- 
pose, the compiler of these extracts, as above all others, 



has collected the views and counsels of the great Wash- 
ington on the momentous subjects which threaten " to 
divide us as a people, and scatter us as a nation." 

It is believed that his wisdom is as potent as ever, 
and if submitted to, will be sufficient to enlighten all 
who are friends to the best interests of the country. 

In the history of the people who, under their great 
Leader, achieved the independence of this country, we 
find that all their operations were collective. Upon all 
occasions of public consideration they united for gene- 
ral defense. As early as 1*754, the Colonies united 
during the French and Indian war. A plan, similar 
to our Federal Constitution, was then drawn up l^y 
Doctor Franklin, submitted to the people, and adopted, 
July 4th, 1754. 

On the excitement of the Stamp Act, produced by 
Great Britain in 1765, a Congress of Delegates from the 
different Colonies assembled in JSTew-York, October 7. 
They continued in session fourteen days, and then set 
forth their grievances and their rights as a peoj^le, and, 
as such, appealed to the King and Parliament of Eng- 
land for redress and acknowledgment. An eminent 
historian says : " The proceedings of this second colonial 
Congress were approved by all the Provincial assemblies, 
and the people of America were then as firmly united 
as they were ten years afterwards, when the Declara- 
tion of Independence was made. From that time they 
acted as one people, having one interest, one purpose, 
one hope." As one people, they fought and suffered, 
and achieved their independence, and became what we 



have been. But it was after eight years of sufferings, 
of privations of every kind, sucli as tliey wlio have en- 
joyed the fruits of it know nothing of — mth the sacri- 
fice of 70,000 men, and an expenditure of over $130,- 
000,000. This union and suffering was the price they 
paid for our independence. But hear the great Wash- 
ington, whose teachings are happily recorded for oui- 
benefit and for that of the workl. 



EXTRACTS 



Extract from an Address by his Excellency, Gen. George Washington, 
to the Army. Head-Quarters, April 18th, 1783. 

"The Commander-in-Chief offers his most cordial 
congratulations on this occasion to all the troops of the 
United States in general, and in particular to those 
gallant and persevering men who resolved to defend 
the rights of their invaded country, so long as the war 
should continue ; for these are the men who ought to 
be considered as the pride and boast of the American 
Army; being crowned with well-earned laurels, they 
may soon withdraw from the fields of glory to the more 
tranquil Avalks of civil life ! While the Commander- 
in-Chief recollects the almost infinite variety of scenes 
through which we have passed, mth a mixture of as- 
tonishment, pleasure, and gratitude ; while he contem- 
plates the prospect before us with rapture, he can not 



lielp wisliing, that all the brave men Avho have shared 
the toils and dangers of effecting this glorious Revolu- 
tion, of rescuing millions fi*om the hand of oppression, 
and of laying the foundation of a mighty empire, 
might be impressed with a proper idea of the dignified 
part they have been called to act, under the smiles of 
Providence, on the stage of human affairs ; for happy, 
thrice happy, shall they be pronounced hereafter, who 
have contributed any thing, who have performed the 
meanest office, in erecting this stupendous Fabric of Free- 
dom and Empire on the broad basis of Independency ; 
who have assisted in protecting the right of human na- 
ture, and in establishing an asylum for the poor and op- 
pressed of all nations and religions. The glorious task 
for which we first flew to arms, being fully acknow- 
ledged and firmly secured, by the smiles of Heaven on 
the purity of our cause, and the honest exertions of a 
feeble peojjle, determined to be free, against a powerful 
nation, and the character of those wdio have persevered 
through every extremity of hardship, suffering, and dan- 
ger, being immortalized by the appellation of the Patiiot 
Army, nothing now remains, but for tlie actors of this 
mighty scene to preserve an unvarying consistency to 
the last, to close the drama with applause, and ,to retire 
from the military theatre with the same approbation of 
angels and men which has crowned all tlieir former 
virtuous actions." 



Extracts from a Circular sent by his Excellency George Washington, 
Commander-in-Chief of the Armies of the United States of America, 
to the Governors of the several States. 

"The great object for wliieli I had the honor to 
hold an appointment in the service of my country 
being accomplished, I am now preparing to resign it 
into the hands of Congress, and return to that do- 
mestic retirement which it is well known I left with 
the greatest reluctance." " Before I cany this reso- 
lution into effect, I think it a duty to make this my 
last official communication, to offer my sentiments 
respecting some important subjects which appear to 
me to be intimately connected with the tranquillity 
of the United States." 

" The citizens of America, placed in a most envi- 
able position as the sole lords and proprietors of a 
vast tract of continent, embracing all the soils and 
climates of the world, are to be considered as the 
actors on a most conspicuous theatre, which seems 
to be peculiarly designed by Providence for the dis- 
play of human greatness and felicity. Here they are 
surrounded with every thing that can contribute to 
human enjoyment; but Heaven has crowned all its 
other blessings, by giving a fairer opportunity for 
political happiness than any other nation has been 
favored with." 

" The foundation of our empire was not laid in a 
gloomy age of ignorance and superstition, but at an 
epoch when the rights of mankind were better under- 
stood and more clearly defined than at any former 



period. Tlie researclies of tlie human mind after 
social happiness had been carried to a great extent. 
The treasures of knowledge, acquired by the labors 
of philosophers, sages, and legislators through a long 
succession of years, have been laid open for our use, 
and their collected msdom may be hapj^ily applied, 
in the establishment of our forms of government. 
The free cultivation of letters, the extension of com- 
merce, the progressive refinement of manners, the 
growing liberality of sentiment, and above all, the 
pure and benign light of Revelation, have liad an 
ameliorating influence on mankind, and increased the 
blessings of society. At this auspicious period, the 
United States came into existence as a nation ; and 
if her citizens should not be completely happy, the 
fault will be entirely their own. 

" Such is our situation, and such are our prospects ; 
but notwithstanding the cup of blessing is reached 
out to us, notwithstanding happiness is ours, if 
we have a disposition to seize the occasion and make 
it our own, yet it appears to me (far-seeing man) 
there is an option, still left to the United States of 
America, whether they will be respectable and pros- 
perous, or contemptible and miserable as a nation. 
This is the time for their political probation. This 
is the moment. when the eyes of the world are turned 
upon them. This is the time to establish or ruin 
their national character forever. This is the favor- 
able moment to give such a tone to the Federal 
Government as will enable it to answer the ends of 



its institution, or it may be tlie ill-fated moment for 
relaxing the power of the Union, annihilating the 
cement of the Confederation, and exposing us to 
become the sport of European politics, which ma}' 
play one State against another, to prevent their grow- 
ing importance, and to serve their own interested 
purposes ; for, according to the system of policy the 
States shall now adopt, they shall stand or fall ; and 
by their confirmation or lapse, it is yet to be decided, 
whether the Kevolution shall be a blessing or a 
curse — a blessing or a curse, not to the present age 
alone, for with our own fate will the destiny of unborn 
millions be involved. With this conviction of the 
imj^oi-tance of the present crisis, silence in me would 
l)e a crime." 

" There are four things which I humbly conceive 
are essential to the well-being, I may even venture 
to say to the existence, of the United States, as an 
independent power. 

" 1st. An indissoluble union of the States, under 
one Federal Head. 

" 2d. A sacred regard to public justice. 

" 3d. The adoption of a proper peace establish- 
ment. 

" 4th. The prevalence of that pacific and friendl}' 
disposition among the people of the United States, 
which will induce them to forget their local preju- 
dices and politics, to make those mutual concessions 
which are requisite to the general prosperity, and, in 



10 

some instances, to sacrifice their individual advan- 
tages to tlie interest of the community. 

" These are the pillars upon Avhich the glorious 
fabric of our independence and national character must 
1)6 supported. 

" Liberty is the basis ; and whoever would dare to 
sap the foundation or overturn the structure, under 
Avhatsoever specious pretext he might attempt it, will 
merit the bitterest execrations and the severest pun- 
ishment which can be inflicted by his injured country.'" 
" Whatever measures have a tendency to dissolve the 
Union, or contribute to violate the sovereign autho- 
rity, ought to be considered as hostile to the liberty 
and independence of America, and the authors of 
them treated accordingly." 

" Without an entire conformity to the spirit of the 
Union we can not exist as an independent power." 
" It is only in our united character that we are known 
as an empire, that our independence is acknowledged,' 
that our power can l^e regarded or our credit sup- 
ported among foreign nations. The Treaties of other 
powers with the United States of America will have 
no validity upon a dissolution of the Union. We 
shall be left nearly in a state of nature, or we may 
find, by our own unhappy experience, that there is a 
natural and necessary progression from the extreme 
of anarchy to the extreme of tyranny, and that arbi- 
trary power is most easily established on the ruins 
of liberty." 



11 



Extracts from the Valedictory Address of his Excellency George Wash- 
ington, announcing his intention of retiring from ail Public Employ- 
ment, dated September 17th, 1796. 

" The unity of government, whicli constitutes you 
one people, is a main pillar in the edifice of your real 
independence, the support of your tranquillity at home, 
your peace abroad ; of your safety and your prosperity, 
of that very lil)erty which you so highly prize. ' But 
as it is easy to foresee, that from different causes, and 
from different quarters, much pains will be taken, 
many artifices employed to weaken in your minds the 
conviction of this truth ; as this is the point in your 
political fortress, against which the batteries of in- 
ternal and external enemies will be most constantly 
and actively (though often covertly and insidiously) 
directed, it is of infinite moment, then, that you should 
])roperly estimate the immense value of your national 
union, to your collective and individual happiness ; that 
you should cherish a cordial, habitual, and immovable 
attachment to it, accustoming yourselves to think and 
speak of it as the palladium of your ^^olitical safety 
and prosperity; watching for its preservation with 
jealous anxiety, discountenancing whatever may sug- 
gest even a suspicion that it can he in any event aban- 
doned^ and indignantly froioning upon the first attempt 
to alienate the sacred ties lohicli noiv link together the 
various parts. 

" For this you have every inducement of sympathy 
and interest. Citizens by birth or choice of a common 
country, that country has a right to concentrate your 
common affection. 



12 

" The name of American, wliicli belongs to you in 
your natural capacity, must always exalt tlie just pride 
of patriotism, more tlian any appellation derived from 
local discrimination. "Witli slight shades of difference, 
you have the same religion, manners, habits, and polit- 
ical principles. You have in a common cause, fought 
and triumphed together ; for the independence and lib- 
erty you possess are the work of joint counsels and 
joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings, and suc- 
cesses. With such j^owerful and obvious motives to 
union, affecting all parts of our country, there will al- 
ways be reason to suspect the patriotism of those, who 
in any c[uarter, may endeavor to weaken its bands." 



Washington on the Power of the People to amend the Constitution or 
to change their Form of Government. 

" The basis of our political systems, is the rigJit of 
the peojyle to make and to alter their constitutions of gov- 
ermnentj hut the constitution which at any time exists^ 
until changed hy an explicit and authentic act of the 
whole people^ is sacredly obligatory upon alV 

" The very idea of the power and right of the peo- 
ple to establish government, presupposes the duty of 
every individual to obey the established government." . 

" I have already intimated to you, the danger of j^ar- 
ties in the state, founding them in reference to geo- 
graphical discriminations. Let me now warn you, in 
the most solemn manner, against the baneful effects of 



13 

the spirit of party generally. This spirit, unfortiv 
nately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root 
in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists 
under different shapes in all governments, more or less, 
but it is seen in its greatest rankness in popular gov- 
ernments, and is truly their worst enemy. 

" The alternate domination of one faction over an- 
other, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, has perpe- 
trated the most horrid enormities, and is, in itself, a 
frightful despotism." " If in the opinion of the peo- 
ple, the distribution or modification of the constitu- 
tional powers be in any particular wrong, let it be cor- 
rected by an amendment, in a way which the constitu- 
tion designates. But let there be no change hy Usurpa- 
tion, for though this, in one instance, may be good, it 
is the customary instrument by which fi'ee govern- 
ments are destroyed. The precedent must always 
greatly overbalance in permanent evil, any partial or 
transient benefit which the use can at any time yield." 
-V " Virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular 
governnients. Who that is a true friend to it, can look 
Avith indifference upon the attempt to shake the fabric V 



President Washington on Education. 

" Promote as an ol)ject of primary importance, insti- 
tutions for the diffusion of knowledge. In proportion 
a3 the structure of a government gives force to public 
opinion, it should be enlightened." In his last speech 



14 

to Congress the President points as his motives to the 
institution of a National University, " The assimilation 
of the principles, opinions, and manners of our coun- 
trymen by the common education of a portion of our 
youth, from every quarter," and remarks : " The moi'e 
homogeneous our citizens can be made in these particu- 
lars, the greater will be the prospect of our permanent 
union : and that a primary object should be the edu- 
cation of our youth in the science of goveenmeis't." 
(When have our youth been so instructed?) 

Such are some of the teachings of the great and 
good Washington: they were embodied in his life, 
and should be sent broadcast, throughout the country. 
That they may be so, is the paramount desire of the 
compiler. 

When a truly good man departs from us, all is not 
interred with his body. It is now many years since 
Washington wa,s gathered to " the general assembly of 
the just made perfect," yet his example is with us for 
imitation, and the counsels of his experience for our in- 
struction. By these he is still here, and is yet the best 
qualified to be our instructor, our leader, and the com- 
mander-in-chief of the armies of our distracted country. 
In these times, that try men's souls, and cause our po- 
litical fabric " to reel to and fro," we look in vain for 
any other. Let us, then, gather ourselves under his 
banner, obey his orders, and he will again lead us to 
victory and peace. Pko Patria. 

New ■ Yorh^ Februarij \st^ 1861. 



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